Annually, a brand new crop of gamers rises to the ranks of the elite at their respective positions. Whether or not it’s due to new teaching, being unlocked in a brand new scheme or simply the final continuation of growth and progress, new gamers set up their place within the higher echelon of the NFL yearly. Over the subsequent few days, we’ll be highlighting these gamers who’re up subsequent within the NFL hierarchy, and are candidates for a breakout season in 2024.
When the New Orleans Saints draft a defensive again, it’s greatest that you just hold your eyes on them. The Saints have a historical past of bringing in high quality defensive backs and turning them into stars of their man protection heavy system. Marshon Lattimore and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson positively come to thoughts when excited about latest hits in New Orleans’ secondary.
Quickly it is possible for you to so as to add Paulson Adebo to that record. Adebo was more healthy final season, and he made essentially the most of his alternatives on the surface. Adebo performed in and began 15 video games for the Saints, and his play took off. He led the Saints in interceptions and move deflections, and with Lattimore lacking time on account of harm, Adebo stepped as much as defend many of the prime receivers New Orleans confronted. Now getting into a contract yr, Adebo may be set to play his greatest soccer of his profession, a wanted increase for a Saints crew that’ll greater than seemingly be superb on protection once more.
Adebo is a easy man nook, who trusts his velocity and prime seventieth percentile wingspan in protection on the surface. In New Orleans’ man and quarters’ heavy scheme, he’s typically left to fend for himself on the surface, and holds up very well. Adebo completed the 2023 season eleventh in Yards per Protection Snap in man protection for all exterior cornerbacks, which divides the entire yardage allowed as the first defender from the entire snaps performed. So on a per snap foundation, Adebo was limiting yards allowed as the first defender at among the best charges within the NFL. If you happen to stack that on prime of his ball manufacturing, you get a man who put collectively a few of his greatest soccer in 2023. Adebo’s instincts actually come out when he’s in off protection and in a position to learn out the play earlier than triggering downhill, identical to he did on this curl route towards the Buccaneers. He doesn’t panic in any respect, breaks on the ball and nearly will get a pick of it.
Adebo is a soccer participant; sure, I do know that looks as if an apparent factor to say, however while you watch him play he simply is aware of tips on how to make performs on the ball. He’s obtained good timing and might alter to no matter offenses throw at him with unimaginable velocity. That is one in all my favourite performs he made all season, breaking off of the crossing route he was initially masking and changing S Tyrann Mathieu because the deep defender in cowl 1 and making the PBU.
Adebo excels in all these coverages, the place he can learn the play out after which react primarily based on what the offense exhibits him. Nonetheless, he typically flashes the energy to jostle move catchers on the catch level and combat by way of to make performs on the ball. Whereas he typically struggles towards greater physique receivers, Adebo holds his personal and fights by way of for interceptions and move breakups.
This exhibits up rather a lot on in-breaking dig routes the place the receiver has to declare the route as an alternative of working one thing like a deep over route with much less of a break. Adebo can set off down and combat by way of to get an interception, identical to he does right here. He takes the bump on the in-breaker and makes the play.
Adebo is such a wise participant, who thrives on the surface utilizing these instincts and playmaking means to their greatest. Within the Saints’ defensive scheme, he’s the right nook to tackle opposing receivers. The place I believe he can enhance is towards greater bodied receivers. He tends to attempt to use his physicality on the prime of the stem towards bigger receivers and will get placed on the flawed facet of a spotlight, but when he can trim a few of that the sky is the restrict.
Up to now in Adebo’s profession, it’s protected to say he’s turn out to be underrated. Nonetheless, the ball abilities and manufacturing he confirmed at Stanford are lastly coming to gentle with him being wholesome. The Saints’ defensive again group is already robust with Lattimore nonetheless there, together with Alontae Taylor and rookie CB Kool-Assist McKinstry. Nonetheless, it’s Adebo who can turn out to be the breakout star from that secondary and put his identify among the many greatest on the CB place.